Player Positions in American Football - dummies Player Positions in American Football Player Positions in American Football Player Positions in American Football Part of Football For Dummies (USA Edition) Cheat Sheet When two opposing American football teams meet on the gridiron (playing field), the player positions depend on whether the football team is playing offense or defense. Football pits the offense, the team with the ball, against the defense, which tries to prevent the offense from scoring. Each side lines up facing the other with the football in the middle. The players on the offensive side of the ball include the Quarterback: The leader of the team. He calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and receives the ball from the center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it. Center: The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. He handles the ball on every play. Running back: A player who runs with the football. Running backs are also referred to as tailbacks, halfbacks, and rushers. Fullback: A player who’s responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback.

Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners. Wide receiver: A player who uses his speed and quickness to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play. Tight end: A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. This player lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback. Left guard and right guard: The inner two members of the offensive line, whose jobs are to block for and protect the quarterback and ball carriers. Left tackle and right tackle: The outer two members of the offensive line. The players on the defensive side of the ball include the Defensive tackle: The inner two members of the defensive line, whose jobs are to maintain their positions in order to stop a running play or run through a gap in the offensive line to pressure the quarterback or disrupt the backfield formation. Defensive end: The outer two members of the defensive line. Generally, their jobs are to overcome offensive blocking and meet in the backfield, where they combine to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier.

On running plays to the outside, they’re responsible for forcing the ball carrier either out of bounds or toward (into) the pursuit of their defensive teammates. Linebacker: These players line up behind the defensive linemen and generally are regarded as the team’s best tacklers. Depending on the formation, most teams employ either three or four linebackers on every play. Linebackers often have the dual role of defending the run and the pass. Safety: The players who line up the deepest in the secondary — the last line of defense. There are free safeties and strong safeties, and they must defend the deep pass and the run. Cornerback: The players who line up on the wide parts of the field, generally opposite the offensive receivers. Quarterback (American football) - definition of Quarterback (American football) by The Free Dictionary Quarterback (American football) - definition of Quarterback (American football) by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . quar·ter·back (kwôr′tər-băk′) n. Abbr.

QB Football The offensive backfield player whose position is behind the line of scrimmage and who usually calls the signals for the plays and receives the ball when snapped. v. quar·ter·backed, quar·ter·back·ing, quar·ter·backs v.tr. 1. Football To direct the offense of. 2. Slang To lead or direct the operations of: "needed someone to quarterback the [brain trust] for the first U.S. ICBM program" (Forbes). v.intr. Football Football Positions | american football films american football films Here are the football positions : Offence : Offensive line The offensive line main job is to protect the QB so he can have enough time to run the play the football positions of the offensive line are : Center(C) He is the one that actually start every play by snapping the ball to the QB. Offensive guard(G) they are two line men that stand of each side of the center. their main job is to block the opposite team defence from stopping the play by tackling the QB or in case of a run play the running back. their football positions are really important Offensive tackle(T) the most skilled players on the offensive line . the line up next to the guards on each side .

their main job is to protect the QB “blind side” Quarterback(QB) The leader of the offensive line . he is responsible for making the play and bring his team down the field. usually the QB will communicate with the head coach through a head set inside his helmet. the coach will call on the play so that the QB can run it through the team in the huddle. lots of the times a QB is needed to improvise or change the play right before the play is run because he believes that a different play will be more effective after he seas the defensive line stand. the QB position is probably the most important position from all the football positions. Running back(RB) usually there are 2 on a team. on football positions there is a full back and a half back. they are the power guys. the drills . the line up behind the offensive line and start running as soon as the ball is snapped to get momentum. when they come close to the QB he hands them the ball so they can literally pound their way down the field. a full back is usually a bigger guy then the half back and he makes the more power edge runs for short yards.

the half back is more light on his feet and can maneuver better between the defence and find holes to run. Wide receiver(WR) These are the bolts of the team. the fastest guys on the team no doubt. they line up on the edges of the field near the side lines and when the ball is snapped they run a route hoping that the QB will throw the ball to them to catch at the end of the route. to play in this football positions they usually have long hands and are very athletic so they can jump high and make unbelievable catches. they are the power of the football positions Tight end(TE) Tight end are somewhat a mix between a offensive line man and a wide receiver. they are bigger and stronger then a wide receiver and slower as well. they are for more short yards routes and sometimes for blocking plays as well for a run play or another WR . Defence : The defensive football positions Defensive tackle(DT) Usually there are 2 DT players on the defensive line . their main job is to rush the passer and stop the play as quickly as possible.if they notice that the offence is running a run play they will chase the runner and tackle him to the ground or try to force a fumble .

if they notice a pass play they will rush to the QB and try to stop him from throwing any way they can. Defensive end(DE) they line up on the defensive line next to the DT and they are usually faster and lighter then the DT , there job is to cover the edges of the field and stop the runner from out running them down the field. Linebackers : Football positions of the linebackers Middle linebacker(MLB) this is the QB of the defence.he lines up at the middle of the defence right behind the defensive line and he has to make all the calls of the defensive team. he is also connected to the defensive coach through a head set so he can communicate to the other players his commands. this role is extremely difficult because he needs to be able to stop the runs . catch the fast WR if they come to the middle of the field and pay attention to the QB all at once. Outside linebacker(OLB) they line up against the offence TE and they are responsible for covering the short passes and often use as a blitzing players. they rush from the sides and try to tackle the QB before he can make any play making the offence loose yards and sometimes force a fumble .

Defensive backs : Cornerbacks(CB) Usually two players that line up at the edges of the field against the offence WR . their main job is to stop the WR from completing a pass. they also try to catch passes themselves and intercept the ball. if they see a run play then their job is to contain the runner to the middle of the field so it will be easier to stop him or push him out of bounds to stop the play. Safety(S) there are two safety’s on the team. the strong safety(SS) and the fast safety(FS) . the strong safety is a bigger and stronger player and he lines up at the middle of the field way back behind the defensive line and the fast safety usually lines up at the edges of the field as a last resort to stop a long pass play before the offence can score. special teams football positions Kicker(K) his job is to kick the field goals and kick the kickoffs . he is a special kicker that kicks the ball of the ground. Holder(H) He holds the ball for the kicker on the field goals and usually he is the second QB Long snapper(LS) This is a unique player that can snap the ball for a long distance to the holder or punter .

he comes in instead of the center position when a punt is needed or a field goal attempt. Punter(P) The punter is the player to kick the ball after the team has failed to pass 10 yards or score. he kicked the ball as deep as he can to the other teams territory so they have a long field to cover. Punt returner(PR) & Kick returner(KR) This is the player that catches the ball after a punt or a kickoff and tries to run it all the way down the field to give his offense a better start for the drive. Gunner(G) This player runs as fast as he can to try to tackle the returner before he can make some ground. These are the football positions Quarterback – TalkAmericanFootball Quarterback Overview Arguably the most important position in American Football, the quarterback is also the most recognisable to even the casual observer. The pivotal part of the offensive team, the quarterback is responsible for dictating the plays on the field, acting both as a direct vehicle for the coach’s plans and an innovator in his own right, adjusting for the needs of the moment.

As such, any list of the greatest American Football players will necessarily contain a proliferation of famous quarterbacks, from Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers to Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins and, more recently, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. It is also unsurprising that quarterbacks over history have won more Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards than any other position. The basics of the position The quarterback naturally takes on a far greater tactical role than any other player on the team. Once his team has the ball, the quarterback must evaluate the opposition’s defensive line and look for a way to penetrate it – either as a means to gain yardage or, if particularly successful, bring about a touchdown with a pass to one of the runners. This inherently requires a great deal of initiative and, more importantly, improvisation, as there are no guarantees on what the defensive team will or will not do. However, the quarterback will have the benefit of a foundation of pre-planned and practiced plays to choose from, as well as the assistance of the coach. Indeed, it is the latter’s role that is often central to the success of the quarterback and has been used as a stick to beat a successful quarterback with.

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, for example, has had his status as a great disputed by critics who claim he is merely proficient in actualising the plays of coach Bill Belichick. This has certainly been a modern development in connection with the rise of offensive coordinators who, along with the coach, can actually communicate with the quarterback via a headpiece up until 15 seconds remaining on the play clock. As such, the aforementioned attribute of improvisation is key to elevating a quarterback’s status from good to great. The play can be changed right at the last moment and it is the quarterback’s job to interpret the defensive team’s movements, signal to his team and put the superior play into practice. For example, if the defensive side appears to have accounted for the offensive team’s runners in their set-up, the quarterback may opt for a running game. In order to give the quarterback time to make changes, the quarterback will remind his team of the play via audible signals immediately prior to the snap – hence the rather confusing set of codes such as ‘Blue 35’. Other important attributes Because of the quarterback’s importance to the offensive game, the defensive line’s tactics revolve around restricting his options.

This can mean simply cutting off the runners or, more emphatically, a quarterback blitz, where defenders break the line of scrimmage and take down the quarterback or at the very least distract him. While the quarterback’s team are obliged to give him time and space to select the right option, the quarterback’s role has expanded somewhat to take account of more effective defensive tactics. Indeed, it is now extremely important for the quarterback, although still relying on accurate, strong throwing, to be mobile and able to elude tackles. List of positions | American Football Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Offense The offensive team or football is the team that begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball.A play usually begins when the quarterback takes a snap from the center and then either hands off to a back, passes to a receiver or a back, or runs the ball himself. The object of the offensive team is to score points for their team. Usually the sign that their goal is accomplished for the offensive team is the touchdown . However, the offensive team can also help the team score by getting good field position for an attempt at a field goal . The offensive unit in American football consists of a quarterback, linemen, backs, tight ends and receivers.

The function of most of the linemen is to block. The offensive line consists of a center, two guards, two tackles and one or two tight ends. Backs include running backs (or tailbacks) who frequently carry the ball, and a fullback, who usually blocks, and occasionally carries the ball or receives a pass. The primary function of the wide receivers is to catch passes. The ultimate makeup of the offense and how it operates is governed by the head coach or offensive coordinator 's offensive philosophy. Center—the center performs the normal blocking functions of all linemen and is the player who puts the ball in play by means of the snap. Guard—the two guards are the offensive linemen directly on either side of the center and inside the tackles. Like all interior linemen, their function is to block on both running and passing plays. On some plays, rather than blocking straight ahead, a guard will "pull" - moving around behind the other offensive linemen upon the start of the play - in order to block a player on either side of the center, in an inside running play called a "trap" or an outside running play called a "sweep". Offensive tackle—the offensive tackles play on either side of the guards.

Their role is primarily to block on both running and passing plays. The area from one tackle to the other is an area of "close line play" in which some blocks from behind, which are prohibited elsewhere on the field, are allowed. For a right-handed quarterback, the left tackle is charged with protecting the blindside, and is often faster than the other offensive linemen to stop 'speed rushers' at the Defensive End position. Like a guard, the tackle may have to "pull", on a running play, when there is a tight end on his side. The description above of the guard and tackle positions apply only to a line that is balanced (has equal numbers of players on both sides of the player who is to snap the ball). In an unbalanced line, there may be players designated "guard" or "tackle" next to each other. Offensive linemen cannot catch or run the ball in most circumstances. Except for the snap by the offensive center as each play from scrimmage starts, ordinarily the only way an offensive lineman can get the ball during a play is by picking up a fumble .

On rare occasions offensive linemen legally catch passes; they can do so either by reporting as an eligible receiver to the referee prior to the snap or by catching a pass which has first been deflected or otherwise touched by an eligible receiver or a defensive player. Any other touching of the ball by an offensive lineman will result in a penalty. Tight end—tight ends play on either side of, and immediately next to, the tackles. They are a mix between a blocker and a pass receiver. If an end moves away from the tackle, he is called a split end. Modern formations typically have one end tight and one split end. Many modern formations forego tight ends and replace them with wide receivers. Sometimes a formation is referred to as having "three tight ends", which in reality means an additional blocker (a wingback or an eighth lineman) has been substituted for a wide receiver, as in short-yardage situations. Wide receiver—the wide receivers are speedy pass-catching specialists. Their main job is to run pass routes and get open for a pass, although they are occasionally called on to block.

A wide receiver may line up on the line of scrimmage and be counted as one of the necessary 7 players on the line in a legal formation (a split end), or he may line up at least one step behind the line of scrimmage and be counted as being in the backfield (a flanker if he is on the outside, a slot if he is not). There are generally two types of wide receivers, "speed" and "possession". A speed receiver's primary function is to stretch the field, be a deep threat, and to not allow the defense to bring an eighth man near the line of scrimmage to discourage or defeat rushing plays. A possession receiver is generally the more sure-handed of the two types and is used to keep possession of the ball by making catches that gain first down yardage, but he usually lacks the speed to attack a defensive backfield. Fullback—positioned behind the middle of the line, a fullback may do some running, some blocking, and some short receiving. A classic fullback is more of a power runner than a running back. Many modern formations do not use a fullback.

Most plays utilizing the fullback call for him to block, generally by running up the middle of the line, clearing a path for a running back to use. Running back—the modern term for the position formally called "halfback". The running back carries the ball on most running plays and is also frequently used as a short-yardage receiver. Running backs, along with the wide receivers, are generally the fastest players on the offensive team. Most of them tend not to run straight ahead, preferring to make quick cutbacks to try to find holes in the defense. This, however, is a generalization, since some running backs are more power-oriented. "Fullback" is now regarded as a separate position from running back, with a substantially different role (especially in the NFL). Tailback (TB)—a running back that is positioned behind the middle of the line and deepest of all backs. H-back—a position that was popularized by Joe Gibbs during his first tenure with the Washington Redskins , the H-back is a hybrid position that combines the skill sets of fullback, tight end, and even wide receiver. An H-back lines up similarly to a slotback—but deeper and not as wide—and frequently serves as a blocker for a more deeply positioned back.

Wingback—a player positioned just outside the outermost tight end, the wingback is slightly offset from the line of scrimmage which designates the position as wingback rather than tight end. The wingback is typically used in extreme blocking situations or unbalanced offensive formations. Slotback—a player positioned just outside the outermost offensive lineman, the slotback is slightly offset from the line of scrimmage which designates the position as a slotback rather than a tight end. The slotback is a typical position in flexbone formations and other Triple Option formations. Quarterback—typically the quarterback is positioned to take a snap handed between the center's legs. However, recent usage refers imprecisely to a player who is positioned behind the center at any distance, calls signals, is not the usual punter or place kick holder, and usually takes the snap as "quarterback" regardless of exact position, because those functions have typically been performed by quarterbacks. Typical play from formations where the quarterback takes the snap proceeds by the quarterback either handing the ball off to a running back to run, throwing the ball downfield, or running personally. Teams can vary the number of wide receivers, tight ends and running backs on the field at one time.

Football rules limit the flexibility of offensive formations. Seven players must line up on the line of scrimmage, and only the two at the end are eligible to catch passes. Sometimes, offensive lineman can declare eligibility and become "tackle eligible." This variation was first used by former Niner Head Coach Bill Walsh , who used tackle Guy McIntyre as a receiver. A few years later tackle William Perry scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XX . Jumbo Ellott and Dan Klecko are two other tackles who have caught touchdowns while being tackle eligible. Defense The defensive team or defense is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. The object of the defensive team is to prevent the other team from scoring. The sign that the defensive goal has been accomplished is a 4th down, which usually involves punting the ball. Unlike the offensive team, there are no formally defined defensive positions. A defensive player may line up anywhere on his side of the line of scrimmage and perform any legal action. However, most sets used in American football include a line composed of defensive ends and defensive tackles and (behind the line) linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

Defensive ends and tackles are collectively called defensive line, while the cornerbacks and safeties are collectively called the secondary, or defensive backs. Defensive end (DE)—the two defensive ends play on opposite outside edges of the defensive line. Their function is to attack the passer or stop offensive runs to the outer edges of the line of scrimmage (most often referred to as "containment"). The faster of the two is usually placed on the right because that is a right-handed quarterback 's blind side. Defensive tackle (DT)—(sometimes called a defensive guard), defensive tackles are side-by-side linemen who are between the defensive ends. Their function is to rush the passer (if they can get past the offensive linemen blocking them), and stop running plays directed at the middle of the line of scrimmage. A defensive tackle that lines up directly across from the ball (and therefore, is almost nose-to-nose with the offense's center) is often called a nose tackle or nose guard . The nose tackle is most common in the 3-4 defense and the quarter defense. Most defensive sets have from one to two defensive tackles. Sometimes, but not often, a team will employe three defensive tackles.

Linebacker (LB)—linebackers play behind the defensive line and perform various duties depending on the situation, including rushing the passer, covering receivers, and defending against the run. Most defensive sets have between two and four linebackers. Linebackers are usually divided into three types: strongside (Left- or Right- Outside Linebacker: LOLB or ROLB); middle (MLB); and weakside (LOLB or ROLB). The strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the offense's tight end; he is usually the strongest LB because he must be able to shed lead blockers quickly enough to tackle the running back. The middle linebacker must correctly identify the offense's formations and what adjustments the entire defense must make. Because of this, the middle linebacker is nicknamed the 'quarterback of the defense'. The weakside linebacker is usually the most athletic or fastest linebacker because he usually must defend an open field. Cornerback (CB)—typically two players that primarily cover the wide receivers. Cornerbacks attempt to prevent successful quarterback passes by either swatting the airborne ball away from the receiver or by catching the pass themselves . In rushing situations, their job is to contain the rusher.

Safety (FS or SS)—the safeties are the last line of defense (farthest from the line of scrimmage) and usually help the corners with deep-pass coverage. The strong safety (SS) is usually the larger and stronger of the two, providing extra protection against run plays by standing somewhere between the free safety and the line of scrimmage. The free safety (FS) is usually the smaller and faster of the two, providing variable and extra pass coverage. Typically, a team will have a safety who also has a reputation of being a hard hitter, as evidenced by Mark Carrier, Rodney Harrison and Bob Sanders, John Lynch, and Sean Taylor to name a slim few. More recently, teams are looking for hybrid safeties who can do both jobs, as in a cover 2 defense, the strong safety has a greater role to play in coverage. Safeties are also used in a variety of blitzes. Nickel - and Dime - backs—in certain formations one extra (a fifth) defensive back (called a nickel defense), two extra (a sixth) DB (called a Dime package), or even three extra (a seventh) DB called a Quarter may be used to augment the backfield or defensive line.

Nickelbacks, dimebacks, and Defensive Quarterbacks are usually used to defend pass plays with extra receivers, but they can also be used to rush quarterbacks or runningbacks more quickly than linemen or most linebackers can. A starting cornerback who is good at blitzing and tackling will sometimes be referred to as a nickelback to distinguish them from cornerbacks. Special teams Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks , punts , and field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions. Special teams are unique in that they can serve as offensive or defensive units and that they are only seen sporadically throughout a game. Special teams include a kickoff team, a kick return team, a punting team, a punt blocking/return team, a field goal team, and a field goal block team. There are also specialized players on these teams, including: Punt returner (PR)—returns punts. Gunner —player on kickoffs and punts who specializes in running down the field very quickly in an attempt to tackle the kick returner or the punt returner. Wedge buster —player whose goal is to sprint down the middle of the field on kickoffs.

While ideally, their goal is to reach the kick returner, their immediate goal is to disrupt the wall of blockers (the wedge) on kickoffs, preventing the returner from having a lane in which to get a substantial return. Being a wedge buster is a very dangerous position since he may often be running at full speed when coming into contact with a blocker. Because these aspects of the game can be so different from general offensive and defensive play, a specific group of players is drilled in executing them. Though fewer points are scored on special teams than on offense, special teams play determines where the offense will begin each drive, and thus it has a dramatic impact on how easy or difficult it is for the offense to score. For the purposes of scoring in fantasy football, points scored on special team returns are typically credited to the defense. Quarterback | American Football Database | Fandom powered by Wikia Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde Michael Vick uses his mobility to elude Dwight Freeney, a member of the NFC team at the NFL's 2006 Pro Bowl . Quarterback (QB, originally called blocking back) [1] is a position in American and Canadian football .

Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line . Quarterbacks are the leaders of the offensive team, responsible for calling the play in the huddle. Every play starts with a "snap", an action where the offense's center gives the ball to the quarterback, or to another offensive player such as a punter or wide receiver. After receiving the ball, the quarterback either throws a pass or hands it to another offensive player; in some cases, the quarterback keeps the ball in an attempt to run or "scramble" past the defense. At most levels, but especially at the college and professional level, the quarterback role is one of the most visible and important roles on the team. The quarterback touches the ball on nearly every offensive play and has a great deal of responsibility both in calling plays and making decisions during the play. While there is liberal substitution at most positions in football based on the play call and to minimize player fatigue, most quarterbacks are on the field for every offensive play leaving only for injury or when the game's outcome is no longer in doubt. Quarterbacks are frequently chosen early in the NFL Draft and often receive much more lucrative contracts than other positions.

As of 2011, players in this position have won more Super Bowl MVP awards (24 of 45) than players at all other positions combined. As the term "quarterback" gained acceptance in the 1930s, it originally referred to the player's position relative to other members of the offensive backfield. Before the emergence of the T-formation in the 1940s, all members of the offensive backfield were legitimate threats to run or pass the ball, and most teams used four offensive backs on every play: a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback. The quarterback began each play a quarter of the way back, the halfbacks began each play side by side and halfway back, and the fullback began each play the farthest back. Now that most offensive formations have only one or two running backs, the original designations do not mean as much, as the fullback is now usually a lead blocker (technically a halfback), while the halfback or tailback (called such because he stands at the "tail" of the I) lines up behind the fullback.

Traditionally, quarterbacks have been responsible for calling the team's offensive plays based on the defense's formation, or game situation. To choose the proper play, quarterbacks often spend time rehearsing and studying prearranged plays during their team's practice sessions. In recent years, the rise of offensive coordinators has led partiality toward a scripted game plan. The offensive coordinators and coaches usually give the quarterback information via a built-in headphone in the helmet as to what to do before the play. Quarterbacks are allowed to hear, but not talk to, their coaches until there are fifteen seconds left on the play clock. [2] The quarterback then relays the information to teammates and executes the plays. When the players are set in a formation, the quarterback starts the play by calling out a code word, a number, or a combination of the two. Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry was an early advocate of taking play calling out of the quarterback's hands. Although this remained a common practice in the NFL through the 1970s, fewer QBs were doing it by the 1980s and even Hall-of-Famers like Joe Montana did not call their own plays.

Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly was one of the last to regularly call plays. Among current NFL QBs, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons call all, or nearly all, of their team's plays using a no-huddle offense , although they mostly just make adjustments to the plays given to him from the offensive coordinator.[ citation needed ] Contents Edit If quarterbacks are uncomfortable with the formation the defense is using, they may call an audible change to their play. For example, if a quarterback receives the call to execute a running play, but he notices that the defense is ready to blitz – that is, to send additional defensive backs across the line of scrimmage in an attempt to tackle the quarterback or thwart his ability to pass – the quarterback may want to change the play. To do this, the quarterback yells a special code, like "Blue 42," or "Texas 29," which tells the offense to switch to a specific play or formation. Also, quarterbacks can " spike " or throw the football at the ground to stop the official game clock. For example, if a team is down by a field goal with only seconds remaining, a quarterback may spike the ball to prevent the game clock from running out.

This usually allows the field goal unit to come onto the field, or attempt a final " Hail Mary pass ". However, if a team is winning, a quarterback can keep the clock running by kneeling after the snap. This is normally done when the opposing team has no timeouts and there is little time left in the game, as it allows a team to burn up the remaining time on the clock without risking a turnover or injury. Receiving Edit While quarterbacks are mainly not a factor in terms of receiving forward passes, some trick plays, like the flea flicker , require quarterbacks to catch a lateral by a wide receiver or running back before delivering a forward pass. In the wildcat formation , a quarterback lines up as a flank receiver who can be used to catch a forward pass. Typically the quarterback is not thrown to in this formation, but serves as a decoy, as even the least mobile quarterbacks are capable of catching a ball for positive yardage. Occasionally, some backup quarterbacks may be used to receive long snaps as a holder for field goal or extra point attempts, as quarterbacks generally have good ball handling skills, and may have to become the passer in the event of a bad snap, an aborted kick attempt or a designed trick play.

Under NFL rules, if a quarterback lines up under center, he is by definition ineligible and not allowed to receive a forward pass. However, in college and high school ball, quarterbacks are eligible receivers (by a special exemption in the high school rule books) regardless of whether they are under center or in a shotgun formation . The NFL allows a quarterback in a shotgun formation to receive a forward pass. Dual-threat quarterbacks Edit With the rise of several blitz heavy defensive schemes and increasingly faster defensive players, the importance of a mobile quarterback has been redefined. While arm power, accuracy, and pocket presence – the ability to successfully operate from within the "pocket" formed by his blockers – are still the most important quarterback virtues, the ability to elude or run past defenders creates an additional threat that allows greater flexibility in the team's passing and running game. This is generally more successful at the college level. Typically, a quarterback with exceptional quickness is used in an option offense, which allows the quarterback to either hand the ball off, run it himself, or pitch it to the running back following him at a distance of three yards outside and one yard behind.

This type of offense forces defenders to commit to either the running back up the middle, the quarterback around the end, or the running back trailing the quarterback. It is then that the quarterback has the "option" to identify which match up is most favorable to the offense as the play unfolds and exploit that defensive weakness. In the college game, many schools employ several plays that are designed for the quarterback to run with the ball. This is much less common in professional football, except for a quarterback sneak , but there is still an emphasis on being mobile enough to escape a heavy pass rush . Two quarterback system Edit Sometimes a team is undecided on which quarterback should start a game. In that case, the team may employ alternating quarterbacks. This could have negative effects on the cohesion and consistency of the offensive team, but could also serve to confuse the defense. A rare successful example of a two-quarterback system can be seen in the "WoodStrock" combination of Don Strock and David Woodley , which took the Miami Dolphins to the Epic in Miami and Super Bowl XVII the following year.

See also The Quarterback's Job in a Football Game - dummies The Quarterback’s Job in a Football Game The Quarterback’s Job in a Football Game With the exception of kicking plays, quarterbacks touch the ball on every offensive play during a football game. A quarterback’s job is to direct his team toward the end zone and score as many points as possible. The typical team scores on one-third of its offensive possessions, resulting in either a touchdown or a field goal. So you can see that the quarterback is under enormous pressure to generate points every time the offense takes the field. The quarterback (QB) is the player directly behind the center receiving the ball (see this figure). The quarterback is the player who announces the plays in the huddle, but he doesn’t call them on his own. Coaches on all levels of football (peewee, high school, college, and the NFL) decide what plays the offense will use. But the quarterback must be prepared to change the play at the line of scrimmage if it doesn’t appear that the play will succeed. Changing the play at the line of scrimmage in this way is called audibilizing.

After the quarterback is in possession of the ball, he turns and, depending on which play was called, takes one of the following actions: Hands the ball to a running back. Runs with the ball himself. Moves f urther back and sets up to attempt a pass. Depending on the design of the offense, the quarterback takes a three-step, five-step, or seven-step drop before throwing the ball. The area in which the quarterback operates, most likely with a running back and the offensive line protecting him from the defense, is called the pocket. It’s as wide as the positioning of the quarterback’s offensive tackles. The quarterback’s main job is to throw the football and encourage his teammates to play well. In college, especially if the team runs a spread formation, the quarterback may run the ball as often as he passes, but in the NFL, the quarterback rarely runs with the ball. Here are a couple of special-case plays the quarterback may need to call: Quarterback sneak: Teams run this play when the offense needs a yard or less for a first down. The quarterback takes a direct snap from the center and either leaps behind his center or guard, or dives between his guard and center, hoping to gain a first down.

Shotgun snap: In passing situations when the team has many yards to go for a first down or touchdown, quarterbacks sometimes take a shotgun snap: the quarterback stands 6 to 8 yards behind the center and receives the ball through the air from the center, much like a punter does. Starting from the shotgun position, the quarterback doesn’t have to drop back. He can survey the defense and target his receivers better. However, defending against a quarterback who lines up in the shotgun position is easier for the defensive players, because they know the play is very likely to be a pass instead of a run. Ranking each position's importance, from quarterback to returner - NFL.com Ranking each position's importance, from quarterback to returner Published: July 27, 2015 at 12:11 p.m. Updated: July 27, 2015 at 10:34 p.m. 0 Likes | 0 Comments More Columns > Football is the ultimate team game, but all positions are not created equal. Given the pass-happy nature of today's NFL, quarterbacks are clearly the most important players in the game, due to their responsibilities and direct impact on the outcome.

What about the other players on the field? How do team builders rank and prioritize the rest of the positions on the roster? Given some time to reflect on conversations I've had with scouts and coaches over the years, I thought I'd rank the positions in order of importance/value. Here is my hierarchy, with three notable examples at each spot for quick reference: 1) Quarterback There's no disputing the importance of the position in 2015. The quarterback is not only the team's biggest decision maker, but his ability to make timely plays and efficiently manage the game routinely determines which team lands in the winner's circle at the end of the season.

Question: In American football, what position is QB
Answer: Quarterback